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I need a little help. My son and I have completed the Flanking Caen campaign, and as the Germans I'm getting a butt-whooping! We were looking at the Early Falaise campaign ('cause it's next) and I'm confused how it ends.

looking at the Campaign sheets we play "St Martin..." then "Mont Pincon". At that point if the Axis wins we end the Campaign (per the Axis sheet) or if the Allies win we go to "Closing the Gap" and the campaign ends after.

Now, on both sheets (axis and allied) it says "if you win after Closing..." end the grand campaign; and it says on both "if you win after Mont..." move on to "Falaise".

OK, now here's where I'm getting turned around, how can the Allies win after "Mont Pincon" if by winning they goto "Closing..."?

I'm thinking (based on history) that if the Allies win "Closing the Gap" the Grand Campaign ends, but if the Axis win "Mont Pincon" we move onto the "Falaise" campaign.

To add to my confusion is the note on p.17 "Grand Campaign progression" - we're in step two : Taking Caen, but step four says to play "Falaise" if not already played? Does the Grand Campaign end if the Allies close the gap or not?

Good question and I can see how this may be a little confusing so hopefully I can shed some light here.

In the Early Falaise campaign if the Allies lose the battle of Mont Pincon (ie. the Axis win) the campaign ends. You'll note that on both Axis and Allies score sheet that the Grand Campaign then moves on to 'Falaise'.

The only way to get to 'Closing the Gap' (which happens to be the last scenario in the Grand Campaign as historically, the battle for Normandy did in fact end there) is for the Allies to win not only at Mont Pincon, but also need to win the 'Early Falaise' campaign.

The 'Early Falaise' and Grand Campaign will both end after 'Closing the Gap'.

It's like an early end and some bragging rights for the Allied Commander!

Early Falaise though is a tough campaign for the Allies (again, as it was historically) so likely the Allies will have one more campaign on their hands which is Falaise.

Seems like you've got it (though you can also get to the 'Falaise' campaign via the Breakout campaign, but that doesn't factor into your particular path this play...maybe next time!).

I know it can seem confusing that if the Allies lose at Mont Pincon they might still go on to win the campaign but it is a case of lose the battle but win the war.

Should the Allies really do well at St. Martin & Bull Bridge yet lose by just a little at Mont Pincon, it might be enough to win the campaign but the loss at Mont Pincon gives the Axis one more chance to organize for a solid defence at Falaise. It might be your last hope so you'll need to be crafty at Mont Pincon, it is certainly a hinge battle!

Eyes light up around the world as players of the fascinating World War II board game, Memoir '44, realize that with the Campaign Book they can experience the vital importance of capturing military objectives and the significance of winning hinge battles. In an atmosphere of destruction and loss, a solitary German general sees a faint shimmering light as he realizes the path he must take to ultimate victory. The road won't be easy, but if gp-man can keep his focus he may be able to defeat the brilliant young American general!

Is the... "If you win the Campaign after Mont Pincon" Grand Campaign Box on page 34 for the Allies superflous then, since it states the Grand Campaign should move on to 'Falaise'.
This is an error - right? - since an Allied victory leads on to Closing the Gap?

Is the... "If you win the Campaign after Mont Pincon" Grand Campaign Box on page 34 for the Allies superflous then, since it states the Grand Campaign should move on to 'Falaise'.
This is an error - right? - since an Allied victory leads on to Closing the Gap?

The Allies could lose the Mont Pincon battle yet win the campaign. In which case, the Grand Campaign box of moving on to Falaise is correct (the Allies wouldn't get an early 'closing the gap' chance...they only get that if they win the Mont Pincon scenario).

Ok - maybe I didn't ask the right question... how do the Allies Win the Campaign after Mont Pincon?

I ask because this 'box' says if they do - they move onto the Falaise Campaign in the Grand Campaign yet the current campaign (Early Falaise) is not yet finished - still need to play 'Closing the Gap'

Am I missing something obvious?

I don't think it is obvious...or perhaps even likely! LOL, it is however, possible.

As an example, say the Allies have a smashing success at St. Martin & Bull Bridge (let's say 5-1) but go on to lose only slightly at Mont Pincon (say 5-6).

Their loss at Mont Pincon prevents the campaign from progressing onto Closing the Gap and effectively the campaign is now over. (the condition to move onto Closing the Gap is a win specifically on the Mont Pincon scenario).

Because the Allies have a better campaign score than the Axis (say 10-7), they have in fact now won the campaign.

Again, while this may not be a likely outcome (or maybe it will...only time and AAR's will tell) I had to account for the possibility.

It must be me - I still do not understand why you have that box that seems superfluous to me.

I understand the Allies can still win the Campaign even if they lose at Mont Pincon. And I see how the result at Mont Pincon decides how the rest of the Grand Campaign will run. If the Allies win Mont Pincon - they get the chance to go to Closing the Gap (even if they may be losing the Campaign - which is possible). If they lose at Mont Pincon, the Camapign ends and go to Falaise.

So I just do not see how the Allied player's (Early Falaise) campaign score drives the Grand Campaign route (as suggested by the box in question). Whether they win or lose (the Campaign) at Mont Pincon is not the determinant - so I still cannot see the reason for this... "If you win the Campaign after Mont Pincon" call-out?

Nevertheless, this should no way detract from the time and effort you have obviously put into this excellent enhancement to the Memoir system.

If the Allies lose at Mont Pincon, then yes, the Early Falaise campaign does end...but the Grand Campaign carries on to the Falaise campaign. The Grand Campaign doesn't end...that only happens if the Allies do go onto to fight the Closing the Gap scenario.

While you are correct that in essence, the outcome of Mont Pincon is really what is driving the GC, it still needed to be pointed out in that box where to go next otherwise I'd be getting all kinds of "So I lost the Mont Pincon battle but won the campaign...so where do we go next in the GC?" questions.

It is really just a tying up loose ends thing. Trust me, a lot of thought went into that Normandy campaign!